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Friday, July 24, 2015

Story 19: Santa's Chocolate Factory – Naughty Joey is getting into mischief. Story 20: Triller - One of Oliver's friends is taking part in a singing contest. Story 21: April Volcano – April Fools' Day can be no joke.

Blurb of series:

“Oliver and Jumpy”, are best of friends and experience many adventures together in this extensive series. Oliver is a black-and-white tomcat, who is very self-assured. As a matter of fact he says: “I love myself!” quite often. But his best friend Jumpy is aware that he is only putting up a front! Oliver has a soft heart and will always want to help others. The great thing is Jumpy’s pouch, which Oliver loves to ride in! He calls her his kangaroo taxi!

How did you get your start writing?

There are lots of fairy tales and bedtime stories around and many of them are quite violent and unsuitable for young children. This made me decide to write something different. On a flight from Europe to Australia I watched the movie ‘Magic on Belle Island’ with Morgan Freeman, where Freeman teaches a little girl to have imagination and write her first story. This inspired me as well and the first stories with the two main characters Oliver, the elegant tomcat, and Jumpy, his kangaroo lady friend, made their appearance. It was my full intention to create something quite different and maybe even controversial at times. I prefer to treat children like adults within reason.

My Review: Colorful pictures. Entertaining stories. Teaching values. Fun characters. Werner takes the young reader on an adventure and helps them use their imagination. Great bedtime stories.

A SHORT BIO

Born in Vienna, Austria, Werner is now living in the paradise of Perth, Australia with his wife, two married children and three grandchildren. He worked in the printing industry for many years and later for the United Nations in Vienna. Now retired, after a full and eventful life, he began to write children’s stories. He found illustrators through Odesk, narrated them himself for YouTube and finally took the next step by publishing ebooks.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

A long time ago, a Gryphon shifter’s duty was to guard and protect the people of the tribes, but Darrien Andros failed to keep his human wife safe from harm. Cursed for the crime, he must guard everything in the Museum of Cursed Antiquities forever, never to truly live and never to die. Centuries have passed, but when he encounters a thief, who uncannily resembles his dead wife, he is convinced he has a second chance.

Calli Angelis is hired to steal Hecate's Stone from the Museum, believing she would be returning it to its rightful owner. She never really trusted the person who hired her and now Darrien makes her doubt her motives, too. He also has her questioning the possibility of reincarnation when the attraction between them ignites into something she can no longer ignore.

As the two work together to unravel the mysteries behind the stone, it becomes apparent an old and dangerous enemy from Darrien’s past is determined to have history repeat itself.My Review: I loved this book. I give it five stars. This book is full of mystery, danger, and romance. "I bless the stars that you walked into my museum to commit thievery," Darrien says to Calli. Darrien is a Grphon who has been cursed. Calli is only a human. These two fall in love. A love they shared a long time ago.

Monday, July 6, 2015

About the Book

Title: Sammy Steals the Show (a Bird Brain Book, #10) | Author: Emlyn Chand | Illustrator: Noelle Giffin | Publication Date: May 28, 2014 | Publisher: Evolved Publishing | Pages: 56 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8Book Description: Sammy is a talented young cockatiel who loves to sing out of his open apartment window for all of Australia to hear. One day, he watches a reality singing competition with his human friend, Lisa, and knows that if he could just audition, he would surely win. What follows is a masterful escape, an eventful journey to the Sydney Opera House, and an audition thecrew of "Sing Your Heart Out" will never forget. Will Sammy take home the title of Australia’s next rising star, or will he find something more important along the way? There’s only one way to find out: join Sammy in his humorous adventure of fame, friendship, and fun.

My Review: "Everything is better when you carry a song in your heart," is what Sammy says. He is a talented bird with a beautiful singing voice. He could have had a chance at fame, but he chose friendship. Cute story that reminded me how important friendship is.

About the Author: Emlyn Chand

From an early age, Emlyn Chand has counted books among her best friends. She loves to hear and tell stories and emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). Her affinity for the written word extends to absolutely every area of her life: she has published fiction across multiple genres, oversees and
contributes as both an editor and an author to the Novel Publicity Guides for Writing & Marketing Fiction series, and loves the written word so much, she even married author Falcon Storm! Don’t forget that she is the founder and president of Novel Publicity too.

The book that changed Emlyn’s life is Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson. It opened her eyes to the world that could exist if only she was willing to create it—a lesson she has never forgotten. Maybe that’s why she loves writing her Bird Brain Book series for children so much! Emlyn’s first novel, Farsighted, won the prestigious Writer’s Digest Self-Published Novel of the Year award in 2012 for the YA category. She now writes most of her fiction under her real name, Melissa Storm.

Evolved Publishing presents the first thrilling installment in "Chosen" by award-winning author Jeff Altabef, and his daughter Erynn Altabef. This fantasy adventure series is steeped in American Indian culture and so much more. Juliet Wildfire Stone hears voices and sees visions, but she can't make out what they mean. Her eccentric grandfather tells her stories about the Great Wind Spirit and Coyote, but he might as well be speaking another language. None of it makes any sense. When she stumbles upon a series of murders, she can't help but worry her grandfather might be involved. To discover the truth, Juliet must choose between her new life at an elite private school and
her Native American heritage. Once she uncovers an ancient secret society formed over two hundred years ago to keep her safe, she starts to wonder whether there's some truth to those old stories her grandfather has been telling her. All she wants is to be an average sixteen-year-old girl, but she has never been average-could never be average. Betrayed by those she loves, she must decide whether to run or risk everything by fulfilling her destiny as the Chosen.

My Review: I loved this book. The characters come to life on the pages. Juliet Wildfire Stone is thrown into a world she knows nothing about. She gets some guidance from her grandfather to learn her true destiny. She is chosen, the only one who can kill the Seeker. Adventure. Mystery. I want to read the next book.

The Buzz About the Book

"This is an enjoyable read for all ages that goes by as fast as the authors can unspool it. " ~ Kirkus Reviews

"This very unique and refreshingly original contemporary fantasy has elements of high epic fantasy woven throughout it, and it will surprise and delight even the most jaded fantasy readers." ~ Jack Magnus, Readers' Favorite Book Reviews

"Wind Catcher stands out from the crowd. It's... a powerful young adultadventure steeped in Native American legend and tradition." ~ Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"A treat to read." ~ Awesome Indies

About the Authors: Jeff Altabef & Erynn Altabef

Wind Catcher is a joint project between the father/daughter team of Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef. Jeff is an award-winning author with two published thrillers. He has a column on The Examiner focused on writing, and volunteers at the local community college. Erynn is an avid reader, dancer, and community activist who has just earned her Girl Scout Gold Award. When she's not in high school, she loves reading performing in school musicals, baking, and watching movies with her friends.